Planning

Connect to Work

BLAENAU GWENT COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

13 May 2026 at 12:43

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

12 May 2026 at 13:59

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council is currently in the planning stage of the procurement process for their "Connect to Work" project, aimed primarily at providing supported employment services. This initiative is part of a collaboration with Torfaen Council and focuses on the delivery of the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) model, designed to support individuals facing complex barriers, disabilities, and long-term health conditions. The location for this project is the United Kingdom, specifically within the UKL16 region. A supplier engagement event is scheduled for Tuesday, 2nd June 2026 at 10:00 via Microsoft Teams. Interested parties must submit their expressions of interest by 17:00 on Friday, 22nd May 2026. The value of this tender is estimated at approximately £1,600,000, with the contract expected to commence on 1st September 2026, lasting for three years and six months.

This procurement opportunity presents significant growth potential for businesses with expertise in delivering high-fidelity supported employment services, particularly those familiar with the SEQF standards. Ideal candidates would be small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) that can provide intensive, person-centred support and integrate well with community services. Providers with strong employer connections, a deep understanding of participant needs, and experience in vocational guidance and personalised employment planning are well-suited to compete in this tender. The project not only supports those outside the labour market but also aligns with the Government's strategy to tackle economic inactivity, making it a highly impactful and rewarding opportunity for service providers.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Connect to Work

Notice Description

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and Torfaen Council (BGCBC and TC) are seeking to engage with the market ahead of a planned commissioning exercise to deliver the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) model as part of the UK Government's DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) Connect to Work programme. Connect to Work is a voluntary supported employment programme delivered across England and Wales, designed to support disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and people facing complex barriers who are currently outside the labour market and experiencing 'Hidden Unemployment', to find and sustain meaningful employment. [gov.uk] The programme forms a key component of the Government's Get Britain Working Strategy, targeting economic inactivity by offering tailored, intensive, and high-quality employment support at the right time for the right participants. [gov.uk] Participants of the programme must be working-age, eligible, and suitable for the provision. Connect to Work delivers the evidence-based "place, train, and maintain" Supported Employment model. The Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) is designed to support individuals facing complex barriers, disabilities, long-term health conditions, social, emotional, or environmental barriers. Providers must deliver: * High-fidelity Supported Employment aligned with SEQF standards * A "place, train, and maintain" model of support * Intensive one-to-one employment guidance * Vocational profiling and personalised employment planning * Job matching and targeted employer engagement * On- and off-the-job support, including in-work progression coaching * A personalised, strengths-based participant journey * Close integration with community support services to sustain outcomes All Connect to Work delivery partners must adhere to SEQF fidelity scales and participate fully in the DWP-led Fidelity Assurance System. Delivery Partners will be required to undertake fidelity audits, quality checks, and performance reviews, ensuring consistent and evidence-based practice. The value of this tender will be approximate PS1,600,000 over the course of the contract; Please note that, due to the required timescales for the successful provider to mobilise and begin delivery, the Year 1 allocation of funds is expected to be slightly lower. Funding will be issued on a yearly basis, with annual allocations confirmed in line with programme requirements, performance, and governance arrangements. It is anticipated that the contract commencement date is 01 September 2026 for a period of three (3) years and six (6) months - contract period will be confirmed in the tender documents. Please note - this is an indicative specification and could change when the tender is released

Planning Information

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and Torfaen Council (BGCBC and TC) are undertaking preliminary market engagement with suitable providers who are passionate about supporting disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and people facing complex barriers. The Council is looking to commission services that offer Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) delivery, designed to support individuals facing complex disabilities, long-term health conditions, social, emotional, or environmental barriers. Participants of the programme must be working age, eligible, and suitable for the provision. Connect to Work delivers the evidence-based “place, train, and maintain” Supported Employment model. BGCBC and TC are interested in providers that can demonstrate: • Proven expertise and experience delivering SEQF or similar Supported Employment models and related fidelity assurance • Capacity to deliver intensive, high-fidelity support • Strong understanding of participant needs, including those with complex barriers • Established employer links and knowledge of local labour market conditions • Skilled Employment Specialists experienced in SEQF delivery • Ability to meet fidelity and performance requirements with robust governance • Commitment to person-centred, strengths-based approaches This is an opportunity to work in close partnership with the Council to co-design and deliver services that make a real difference. The Council wants to collaborate with service providers who share our commitment to inclusive, responsive, and empowering support for disabled people, individuals with health conditions, and people facing complex barriers who are currently outside the labour market. This Supplier Engagement aims to: • Assess the capacity, expertise, and readiness of potential programme providers. • Shape future commissioning and procurement activity. • Support the design of a high-fidelity, high-quality local delivery model. • Engage with potential programme providers early to ensure clarity of expectations and standards. If your organisation is interested, please can you express an interest for the preliminary supplier engagement as per the guidance set out below; The Council is holding a preliminary supplier engagement event on Tuesday 2nd June 2026 at 10:00 Hours on Microsoft Teams. To register an interest Service Providers must send their request via email to corporate.procurement2@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk - Please use reference Connect To Work in subject of email All requests to attend must be received by 17:00 hours Friday 22nd May 2026. Please note that this notice is not a contract notice for a call for competition, it is to advise the market of the Council’s intention to visit the market for such services and to commence preliminary market engagement. Full details of the service specification shall be issued with the call for competition and fully detailed in the tender documents.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0696d2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043914-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

80521000 - Training programme services

85312300 - Guidance and counselling services

85312310 - Guidance services

85312320 - Counselling services

85312500 - Rehabilitation services

85312510 - Vocational rehabilitation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 May 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
22 Jun 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BLAENAU GWENT COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EBBW VALE
Postcode
NP23 6DN
Post Town
Newport
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL53 Gwent Valleys
Delivery Location
TLL16 Gwent Valleys
Local Authority
Blaenau Gwent
Electoral Ward
Ebbw Vale South
Westminster Constituency
Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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